I have a 99 Ford Super Duty f350 7.3 Diesel. It is making a bad grinding/screeching sound just after it starts and is warming up and idling. It wouldn't shut off all the way even after the key was turned off and taken out. It was still making noises like it was trying to stay running. I would restart it and all the while the loud screeching would continue. I couldn't shut it off until I put it in neutral and turned the key off again. I started it again and it made the same loud screeching noise after it was running for a few minutes. I can't tell where it's coming form, maybe around the front of the engine. The fan? Don't know for sure. I live in Colorado and the temperature is 18 degrees.

Plug it in. diesels hate cold starts. The noise you are describing is either pissed off cold diesel engine noise, or the EBPV becoming active, which it does in cold weather operation to help the engine warm up. Search YouTube for similar noises and link them our part a video of your concern.

I do keep it plugged in, it can't start without it. There was a faint smell of something that's either getting real hot or burnt? Can the starter get stuck on or come on while the truck is idling? I also think there's a short somewhere. I will try it again tomorrow and see what I can find. Thanks.

If it won't start without plugging it in, you're overdue for maintenance. The glow plugs and gp relay should be tested, replaced if bad. It wouldn't be related to your concern, but it isn't good for the engine.

It wouldn't shut off all the way even after the key was turned off and taken out. It was still making noises like it was trying to stay running. I would restart it and all the while the loud screeching would continue.

I am guessing your starter is staying engaged, which is usually a bad starter solenoid (located on the starter itself).

^^^ this
also check for shorted out or melted battery cable near starter. If the starter is turning when the motor is running it is stuck in the flywheel or recieving power when it should not.
It could also be a bad ignition switch/ steering colum. The pos 97 at work has had two steering colums in it and now needs another one. Still cant figure out why ford didnt put o shit handles in its full size trucks back then.Even S10 blazers have o shit handles.
Thats why the colums wear out, because everyone uses the steering wheel to pull their self into the truck,especialy shorter guys.

I replaced the starter and solenoid a couple weeks ago. Last night when this happened the starter was hot to the touch, couldn't hold your hand there. It was also 18 degrees outside. Today I have started it again. It's been idling for 45 minutes now and has not made the screeching noise. And the starter is cool to the touch. It's about 35 degrees outside right now. What does this mean?

I replaced the starter and solenoid a couple weeks ago. Last night when this happened the starter was hot to the touch, couldn't hold your hand there. It was also 18 degrees outside. Today I have started it again. It's been idling for 45 minutes now and has not made the screeching noise. And the starter is cool to the touch. It's about 35 degrees outside right now. What does this mean?

Like he said. Your starter was stuck engaged.. That's why it was hot, sounds like that's where the noise was coming from.
If I were you I'd pull the starter off (being that its new) take it back and get a replacement or upgrade to something better

^^^ this
also check for shorted out or melted battery cable near starter. If the starter is turning when the motor is running it is stuck in the flywheel or recieving power when it should not.It could also be a bad ignition switch/ steering colum. The pos 97 at work has had two steering colums in it and now needs another one. Still cant figure out why ford didnt put o shit handles in its full size trucks back then.Even S10 blazers have o shit handles.
Thats why the colums wear out, because everyone uses the steering wheel to pull their self into the truck,especialy shorter guys.

What were the symptoms the truck was displaying that made you think it was the ignition switch/steering column? Were there issues with power being supplied even though the truck was off? I've had drained batteries twice now. Something is juicing the batteries overnight. It won't even start now and that's with a full charge on the batteries.

What were the symptoms the truck was displaying that made you think it was the ignition switch/steering column? Were there issues with power being supplied even though the truck was off? I've had drained batteries twice now. Something is juicing the batteries overnight. It won't even start now and that's with a full charge on the batteries.

My 2000 did this, I had a thread on it just a few days ago. I was told it was my "GEM" Module. The black box by the parking brake/firewall. Mine would drain both batteries overnight, radio would come on when it wanted to, domelights, etc. I had cruise control issues, a mysterious beeping under the dash, a clicking coming from something near the GEM module. Everything pointed to the GEM as far as the information I could find.

I am told Ford doesn't make GEM modules anymore and you are pretty much on your own. The tricky part is that the GEM modules need to match the options on your truck (Diesel, auto, power seats, windows, # of doors, 4x4, air, the whole nine yards etc.) So you have to be careful in your searching for a new one.

I got lucky and the dealer gave me decent money for my truck, so I just traded my problem in.

This would be my second (out of 2) Ford vehicle where the electrical sucked and the truck was starting to become a real pain to try to fix/diagnose for a non electrical engineer. Surprisingly enough both of the same model year (2000 explorer and superduty).

The last week or so I owned my truck I had to jump it with my focus (traded that in too since it was still under warranty ) and it would take a while to get enough juice into the batteries to start the truck.
Good luck.

@Kickstand, I was just reading your posts on this earlier this morning. Bingo! My truck does all that, too. Fan motor comes on whenever, dome lights, headlights, buzzing noise from fuse box area, clicking sounds, flashing overdrive light, airbag light, windshield wipers, stereo...etc. The blower motor, alternator, starter and solenoid have all been replaced in the last 1 to 2 months. Going to try an clean up the contacts/connections and such on the GEM Module and see what happens. I hope it works. Looks like a replacement starts around $300...
And it's on the charger again, as we speak.
@Grassman, the starter is probably toast...now my problems are bigger. Dang!

@Kickstand, I was just reading your posts on this earlier this morning. Bingo! My truck does all that, too. Fan motor comes on whenever, dome lights, headlights, buzzing noise from fuse box area, clicking sounds, flashing overdrive light, airbag light, windshield wipers, stereo...etc. The blower motor, alternator, starter and solenoid have all been replaced in the last 1 to 2 months. Going to try an clean up the contacts/connections and such on the GEM Module and see what happens. I hope it works. Looks like a replacement starts around $300...
And it's on the charger again, as we speak.
@Grassman, the starter is probably toast...now my problems are bigger. Dang!

Yeah, if you search the powerstroke boards you'll see its pretty common, and a pain in the ass to deal with considering the "exactness" that your GEM must match to your truck.

It's a shame too, the motors run like tanks, but everything else (I guess with all trucks really) just rusts or falls apart around them.